What is Counselling?

We all need a little help at some point in our lives.

'Counselling takes place when a counsellor sees a client in a private and confidential setting to explore a difficulty the client is having, distress they may be experiencing or perhaps their dissatisfaction with life, or loss of a sense of direction and purpose. It is always at the request of the client as no one can properly be 'sent' for counselling.' British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Counselling for Young people can be accessed at Base 25 (see local info) or via your school nurse or local GP.

What is self-harm?

'Self-harm is a way of expressing very deep distress. Often, people don't know why they self-harm. It's a means of communicating what can't be put into words or even into thoughts and has been described as an inner scream. Afterwards, people feel better able to cope with life again, for a while'

Follow this link to go to the MIND site for the rest of the answers to the questions below.

• Why do people harm themselves?
• Who is most likely to self-harm?
• Is self-harm an attempt to commit suicide?
• Is self-harming behaviour attention-seeking?
• What triggers it?
• What can I do to stop self-harming?
• What help can I get?
• How can friends and family help?

Eating disorders can affect men as well as women.

Anorexia nervosa is deliberate and sustained weight loss driven by a fear of distorted body image.

Bulimia nervosa is a pattern of binge eating (overeating) followed by over crash dieting, over exercising or purging to compensate for the food eaten.

Other Eating disorders include Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Compulsive Over eating.

Contact the Wolverhampton Eating Disorder Service on Eating Disorder Service 01902 445676 / 446022 Or visit their website here

Depression is often an illness. If you're depressed, the usual feelings of sadness that we all experience temporarily remain for weeks, months and years. They can be so intense that daily life is affected. You can't work normally, you don't want to be with your family and friends, and you stop enjoying the things you usually do.

If you're depressed, you may feel worthless, hopeless and constantly tired. In most cases, if you have milder depression, you can probably carry on but will find everyday tasks difficult. If you have severe depression, you may find your feelings so unbearable that you start thinking about suicide. Follow this link to find out more about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for depression. The main thing is not to suffer in silence- you do not have to deal with depression by yourself. Follow any of the counselling links or speak to a trusted adult.

Anger is a natural emotion and we all feel angry from time to time. Some people keep their anger inside them and it can eat them up over time. These people often benefit from talking to a counsellor, youth worker, or other trusted adult. Where you find your anger is getting out of control and you are hurting the people you love and the ones you don't you might need specialist help. The most effective immediate thing you can do about your anger today is to recognise the build up before it gets to the point where you can't control it. Once you recognise these 'triggers' that set your anger off you can go about avoiding the people and places. A counsellor can often help you with managing your anger. There's a lot more free advice by following the link below.

Click here for more on Anger Management

Local Information

The Gem Centre
Neachells Lane
Wolverhampton, WV11 3PG

Tel: 01902 444706

Information from University of Wolverhampton Counselling Services

Base 25
Castle House
Wheelers Fold
Wolverhampton WV1

Tel: 01902 572040

Eating Disorder Service Wolverhampton City NHS Primary Care Trust: 01902 445676 / 446022